Following the recent firing of Israel’s chief medical examiner, Prof. Yehuda Hiss, Zaka’s Yehuda Meshi-Zahav announced he may submit his candidacy to assume the post as the director of the state’s forensic institute.

“There is no reason the institute is not run according to halacha, which provides a solution for any and every eventuality” he told Chadrei Chareidim.

Meshi-Zahav feels the use of a special MRI to perform virtual autopsies can prevent most of the actual autopsies conducted today in contradiction to halacha and he sees himself the right man for the job, explaining the new technology permits determining the cause of death in many cases with any invasive procedures, which he adds “compromises kovod ha’meis and kovod hachaim”.

He feels that not only is his position as head of Zaka not a conflict of interests, but his wealth of experience has taught him the true meaning of kovod ha’meis, enhancing his sensitivity to many related matters, adding to his qualifications.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)